Game Night Results

Harju keeps steadily increasing his assist totals over the last month, as he had a helper today in 14:22 of ice time. Harju was also 33% on draws in the game. Former Flyers prospect Stefan Ruzicka scored the shootout winner for Spartak.

Note:
The game between Chekhov and Karri Ramo and Omsk that was scheduled for today was postponed.

Update:
The Chekhov/Omsk game was suspended due to an ugly string of brawls that led to 19, yes 19, ejections.

After a 22-game win streak, Barrie has now lost two of their last four games. Barrie announced the acquisition of Alex Pietrangelo earlier in the day, but he did not play in the game. Pietrangelo was just reassigned to the OHL by the St. Louis Blues after he won Best Defenseman honors at the World Junior Championships.

It was Jordan Eberle and Colton Teubert Day in Regina, honoring the Pats' two Canadian WJC stars, but despite outshooting the Warriors 37-25, the Pats lost. Eberle was -3 and Teubert -1 with an assist. Ashton, who started the game off the top line, is approaching his career high in penalty minutes (93), set last season in 70 games.

The game has been suspended due to New Jersey's inability to get a bank of lights functioning in their allegedly state-of-the-art and pratically brand new arena in scenic downtown Newark, New Jersey.

No announcement has been made regarding how the league will handle the stoppage. We'll have to dig back in the history books, but I seems to recall a game during Paul Ranger's junior career where this same thing happened and Oshawa had to play the remainder of the game at a different date a week or two later. I'm perfectly fine with the Lightning having to finish out the last 29 minutes of the game. A winner doesn't want to be handed 2 points for half a night's work. As long as the Lightning get to start the resumption of this game with a 3-0 lead at the same point on the clock, I'm fine with that. That's fair. If the Devils try to lobby the league for anything else, I'm going to lose a lot of respect for their organization.

Hutchings opened the gameâ€™s scoring with his 26th goal of the year. His career high for goals is 34, set last season. He scored 29 two years ago. Barrie is expected to announce the acquisition of Alex Pietrangelo, who was released back to major junior by the St. Louis Blues after being named the top defenseman at the world junior championship while playing for Team Canada.

I give the Lightning credit for not laying down after falling behind so much, so early. However, you've got to be more prepared to play a hockey game and you've got to protect the front of your net better.

Zenon Konopka was -1 with 1 shot, 4 hits, and he was 78% on draws in 9:06. He picked off a Ryan Miller clear and almost assisted on Jones' first goal of the season. No dice, though. Still, it was a nice play. Tonight was Konopka's 41st game of the season, which graduates him from overage prospect status on Bolt Prospects. So, congratulations to Zenon Konopka on becoming an NHLer.

Paul Szczechura had 2 shots and 1 blocked shot in 12:43.

James Wright was scoreless in 9:31. Tonight was also Wright's 41st game of the season, which graduates him from prospect status on Bolt Prospects. Congratulations to the pride of Saskatoon on becoming an NHLer.

Blair Jones had 4 shots, 2 hits, and 1 blocked shot in 10:53. That first goal of the season seems close.

Victor Hedman scored a highlight reel goal and was -1 with 2 shots and 1 blocked shot in 20:48. He made a bad little turnover close to his own blueline, used his speed and reach to recover and break up a pass, and then swooped from his zone into the Buffalo zone and sizzled a snap shot right past Miller to get the game to 3-2. It was an amazing individual effort, and 6'6" 230 lbs guys shouldn't be able to skate that well. That's the second or third time this season he's taken over a rush a la Dan Boyle and created a goal with his speed and skill. Hedman's next game will graduate him from prospect status on Bolt Prospects.

Adam Hall (2 goals and 2 assists and a +3 rating) was the game's first star and Ryan Craig was the game's second star with a pair of goals and a +3 rating, answering the bell in Brandon Bochenski's absence. Martins Karsums (4 assists and +3 rating) evidently didn't deserve star consideration. Really?

Karsums now has 2 goals and 10 points over his last 7 games and is finally emerging from a slump that lasted almost the entire first half of the season. He looks energized heading into the Olympics for native Latvia. Matt Lashoff had a pair of helpers for his first multi-point night of the season. Like Karsums, who came with Lashoff in the Mark Recchi deal, Lashoff also slumbered offensively through much of the first half of the season, but he now has 1 goal and 4 points in his last 4 games. Sooner or later, it was inevitable with the talent on this roster that certain guys like Karsums and Lashoff were going to start showing up. It's a good sign.